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Board Meeting, April 10, 1007
Oxley Nature Center
The meeting was called to order by President Dick Sherry at 7:00 p.m.
Members Present: Dick Sherry, Mike Ayling, Marilee Chambers, Mary Coley, Sharon and Tommy Duncan, Tom Clark, Su Davis, Kathy Goodwin and Jim Thayer.
Guests: Susie Ruby, Mary Ann Summerfield, Amy Morris, Greg Warren and Donna Horton
Members Absent: Wally Whaling, Chloe Oney and John Kennington
The minutes of the February 13, 2006 meeting were accepted. Motion made by Su Davis and seconded by Tommy Duncan.
Mary Ann Summerfield and Greg Warren from the Parks Department spoke for 30 minutes or so regarding what we need to do to get our portion of the Vision 2025 funds allocated to us instead of having to wait until 2010. $45 million was taken from us and allocated elsewhere. They are going to help us put a package together to present to the decision maker, Kirby Crowe, who is manager of 2025 funds. Also we need to get the matter on the Park Board agenda for the next public meeting which is on the 2nd Tuesday in May at the Garden Center and then send the same information to the Park Board Members: Yvonne Hovel, Walt Helmerich, Dale McNamara and Joe Schulty.
The Treasurer’s Report touched on several matters. Mike Ayling said that we had the project out to bid and had to stop and that construction costs go up 1% per month. We have a total of $322, 252.45 without inventory and the inventory is running low. Book store is not doing as good as in the past but may do better during the summer. As always, private funding is our optimal goal. Motion made by Tom Clark and seconded by Su Davis to accept the report as submitted. Motion passed.
The President’s Report began with welcoming the new Secretary, Kathy Goodwin to the Board and welcoming guests and introducing Mary Ann Summerfield and Gregg Warren from the Park Board. Dick will meet with the Park Board and discuss the allocation of 2025 Vision funds so we can begin remodeling.
The Naturalist Report was given by Eddie and he discussed several things. We need to get established as a Monarch Weigh Station. We need equipment which is $65. Mike Ayling recommended we pay the money to get equipment and Jim seconded. $150 was allocated. We have 40 volunteers this spring for the Redbud Exhibit which is better than last year. We also need to recruit tour guides and to find out from present guides what needs changed and what are the fun parts.
The landscape committee met and created plant list and plan for landscaping.
We burned 28 acres and left 22 acres that we will rotate and burn next year. We burn in July to mimic natural burning cause by lightening in thunderstorms. Honeysuckle is ok to burn because it comes back easily. We have a new bog with plants, tadpole puddle and frogs.
The new event is the historical reenactment. It consists of 10 actors reinacting cooking, beaver trapping, fire starting skills, fur trading with Pierre Choteau, flintlock rifles. If we get good press coverage and all goes well we will make it a yearly event. Also we would like to get a grant to build small a homestead like from the past with blacksmithing, farming, etc.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Fundraising: Touched on the Treasurer’s Report.
Outreach/Public Relations: Marilee talked about the Dream Center, booth information and the Father Child Connection.
Membership Committee: Discussion of new name tags for Board Members, the status of membership and that those who join late in the year being grandfathered in.
Nominating Committee:
Next Meeting -June 12 at 7:00 p.m.
Meeting Adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted
Kathy Goodwin, Secretary